Email scam demanding bitcoin - fooling the weak.

[Adbitco]

Yeah that is pretty scary. Especially since they send a photo of your house and unless you recognise it was a Google streetview photo you are going to freak out and assume they live in your city and you might be in danger.

I heard the ones where they just email you and threaten but didnt think they would send along photos of your place of residence. The things scammers will do is crazy these days and downright scary.

Hopefully not too many people fall for these scams but I am sure some will because they wont want to put their family at risk.

My question is how would scammer gets our mail to send out that threatening mails? To me i think this things are being done by a close by friends or neighbors who knows that such people are holding enough bitcoin or that knows that such person trades bitcoin. Sincerely google street view doesn't give you view of someone's home, meaning it's archives the old post and updates from google so if someone is that clever enough they would know that it's not a recent photos.

For instance, i was looking for out for hotel that accepted bitcoin within my locality and i google, it shows me with google photos, when i zoomed more closely and follow up and got to the location, it was entirely different from what i saw on google, and if this photos are sent to someone who is working there they would easily detects that is scammers trying to scam them. I say this due to our country standard, i don't know of others how technology function enough to view up google with recent photos of someone's home.

[Accardo]

So they target people who put their details on their Google accounts and tag them on Google Maps? Damn, even if there's no blackmail attempts through e-mails I'd be worried for their safety. Sounds like these people don't have a good knowledge about privacy and security in the first place.

How did the scammers know the images are related to their target btw? Do people upload their location details publicly? A bad idea to put our real name and photo on Google. It's hard to make sure no personal details are leaked.

I'm not sure, if residents show contact details on google map, the only people who do upload details on there are businesses. Maybe hackers are behind the scam threat, and the police only predicted that those pictures came through google map. I do not believe so, their details and photos could have been generated through social media platforms, then traced down on google map. However, as weird as it is, and considering the insecurity in the world, it's some thing to be scare about.

[tabas]

This might be a simple scam attempt and I think that there's almost the same technique as the cons will scare the victims about them being able to browse their files. The scammers could have some partners wherever they're gathering this information. That's why always choose and be vigilant where you're signing up for your details because, with just a few searches away, they can Google Map our locations and scare us with whatever message they'd send us. But, for someone who's informed and won't be fooled easily by this scam attempt, there's nothing to worry about.

[TheUltraElite]

I can already see the cohort who will get affected by this. It is the older generation, less tech savvy users who possibly living alone or have no one else to depend on to. They have a lot of doubt and apprehension and easily get coaxed in paying such scammers. It is our duty to teach them about the nuances and try to prevent these things from happening.

One can try cleaning up their emails every few days or the gunk that get stuffed in, such emails will not be hard to find there.

[ethereumhunter]

The scammers will do anything to trick people and get their money. They can use an image from Google Maps easily and send the email to people and asking for money. We must be careful to share our identity in any website or people so we can prevents the bad things that can happen to us. We can not deny that the scammers will search for many methods to scam people so that is why we must be aware from anything that comes. If we gets suspicious email, we can report it to police and let them investigate and if possible, the police with catch the scammers. We can do prevention from the scamming but the first thing that we must do is keep calm down and think to search for more info about that so we can decide what we need to do.

[Taskford]

I can already see the cohort who will get affected by this. It is the older generation, less tech savvy users who possibly living alone or have no one else to depend on to. They have a lot of doubt and apprehension and easily get coaxed in paying such scammers. It is our duty to teach them about the nuances and try to prevent these things from happening.

One can try cleaning up their emails every few days or the gunk that get stuffed in, such emails will not be hard to find there.

Provably they are one of the best target of scammer since usually they are the one who easily got affected on what they read online. It happen to my uncle where he receive a message that he win certain huge amount on certain program then the one who sent a message is asking for money for said registration before he can get his winning. Luckily we notice this activity and warned him that this is just a scam. And don't believe on such offer again especially if they didn't join any raffle or activity that can give them rewards.

Those scammers is exploiting the weak that's why sometimes its better to have certain discussion about scams in our family especially that people nowadays are staying long time online so they can able to determine what is scams and avoid it.

[cryptomaniac_xxx]

Scary when you read it, but if you apply logic here, doesn't make sense, so yeah, I do agree that it will only fool the weak and not those who have been in crypto for so long that this kind of attacks have been a recurring theme already.

Nevertheless, it's better to be very careful, as the number of physical attacks to Bitcoin holder have been increasing. And then online scammers trying to re-invent themselves with this so called email scams any any other scams for that matter.

[Strongkored]

People who are not familiar with technological developments will certainly be afraid when they receive threatening emails, especially when the fraudsters include pictures of the house and the complete address of their potential victims.

In my opinion, if you use email, it means you are not fully blind to technology, because usually email will also be used for other things in the online world such as for registration of social media accounts and so on, especially for people who are finally fooled by sending money in the form of bitcoin to fraudsters this means that he understands or knows about Bitcoin, it's just that fear makes him unable to think well.
It is unfortunate for those who are deceived they should be able to ask those closest to this so they don't fall into this fraud

There needs to be public service announcements distributed through social media, print media and other electronic media to educate the public so that they do not panic easily when facing a situation like this. Contacting the police department is also a smart move to get help and support.

Usually public services will socialize about this form of fraud after there are victims.

[Alpha Marine]

So they target people who put their details on their Google accounts and tag them on Google Maps? Damn, even if there's no blackmail attempts through e-mails I'd be worried for their safety. Sounds like these people don't have a good knowledge about privacy and security in the first place.

How did the scammers know the images are related to their target btw? Do people upload their location details publicly? A bad idea to put our real name and photo on Google. It's hard to make sure no personal details are leaked.

These are the questions I was taking while reading through the post. Google Maps will only show the picture of the house and the address. The email and names of the people that live there are not shown. So I believe they target people who have their details on google. Probably also found out their social media too. Got the address and pictures from their socials and looked for the address on Google Maps.
This further goes to show how exposed we can be and how we need to be more careful. There are certain personally details that shouldn't be visible for others to see because it can be exploited.
I see people put their addresses on their social media sometimes, except its a work-related address, it shouldn't be public. Your home address should be private.
Pictures that revel where you live shouldn't even be on the internet.

[iBaba]

Those scammers is exploiting the weak that's why sometimes its better to have certain discussion about scams in our family especially that people nowadays are staying long time online so they can able to determine what is scams and avoid it.

These scammers leverage one one's vulnerability to be able to exploit their victims. I know many will be talking about those without enough knowledge being their targets, while that is true and could form a larger part of their targeted audience, even the knowledgeable ones and experienced people can be their victims too. Being careless with the way we operate our transactions sometimes due to our undue comfortability and overconfidence in our professionalism do bring about vulnerable conditions that make us fall into victim.

When dealing with funds and initiating transactions, it is good to always trade with care and exercise patience with the process. Being too hasty brings about vulnerability which is just what a scammers might require to gain his chances over you.

[Kelward]

This types of scams are really terrifying, especially to those who aren't that well-versed in technology. It creates the feeling of invasion through depicting personal information or images from Google Maps. But I think these scammers are just using publicly available information. It is not like they have hacked into our private life. Also, people tend to fall for this in the case of panic. While the scammers may include names and addresses in that mail, they actually do not have access to sensitive data but are trying to scare us into paying up.

Scammers are becoming more innovative everyday and if you're not a step ahead of their wicked schemes you can become one of their victims. There's need for people to be informed about trends on what is happening in their environments and the world at large. Anybody that is not aware or is ignorant of their information on Google map will definitely panic if they receive threat messages with information about their privacy. These scammers takes advantage of Bitcoin decentralization to ask for ransom payment with it thereby giving the coin a bad reputation. The good or the bad can hold Bitcoin and I hope that those that are still skeptical about it should understand the fact

[glendall]

I thought this fraud only applies in my country, fraud like this apparently occurs in all countries, maybe there are slight differences in each mode, if in my country they send it via email and continue via WhatsApp, if we don't have enough references about this type of online fraud, you will definitely be tempted by the amount of money offered.

[Z-tight]

Never give in to blackmail, once you start paying a blackmailer, it does not stop, they'll always come back again, and once you stop the payment, they'll carry out their initial threat, so what's the point paying in the first place.

In this case, it is nothing but an empty threat, maybe these people's addresses are public, or they were victims of a data leak, but what are the odds of the attacker tracking you, and if you are scared of their attack, the right thing to do is to report to the police or move to a new home, if that is possible, but never to send them money, because it solves nothing.

[Agbamoni]

Yeah that is pretty scary. Especially since they send a photo of your house and unless you recognise it was a Google streetview photo you are going to freak out and assume they live in your city and you might be in danger.

I heard the ones where they just email you and threaten but didnt think they would send along photos of your place of residence. The things scammers will do is crazy these days and downright scary.

Hopefully not too many people fall for these scams but I am sure some will because they wont want to put their family at risk.

My question is how would scammer gets our mail to send out that threatening mails? To me i think this things are being done by a close by friends or neighbors who knows that such people are holding enough bitcoin or that knows that such person trades bitcoin. Sincerely google street view doesn't give you view of someone's home, meaning it's archives the old post and updates from google so if someone is that clever enough they would know that it's not a recent photos.

It may be someone close who is trying to scam them or not but to clear your doubt there are several ways that a scammer can get someone's email without going through their phone. We know there are lots of sites where we logins our email information, some fake site that also demands an email for a person to subscribe to their newsletter. And not just that most sites we open in our browser cannot be trusted because some do sell users information while some collect the information for themselves, and the main aim is to send scam messages to users.

Apart from such threat, I heard about another one which user get threatened with their nudes or cheating photos. I wonder how they get to have the information of the victim. But funny enough that is where i suspect that someone who is close to the persons is responsible for doing those things.

[Furious 7]

The scam attempt seems so simple, yet there are still people who fall for it. It’s a threat, though we don’t always know what kind, but for those who aren’t familiar with the technology, seeing an email where the scammer knows their address and even has a picture could really scare them, not realizing it just came from Google Maps. That’s why people need to be more educated about these kinds of scams and the technology behind them to help minimize cases like this.

Things like this happen because of someone's ignorance about bitcoin and ambition to get bitcoin for free so that fraud on behalf of bitcoin prizes but having to pay in advance on the pretext of taxes or other things is always rife even though in the end the method used looks template because it always happens often but there are always people who are fooled by this especially people who are new to bitcoin.

It is important to remind each other in this case even though such situations cannot be prevented directly but we can still remind the closest people around us especially new people not to trust too much with this kind of thing and do not need to be tempted by the lure of a big prize because in the end the first rule (even though it is not in writing) but must still be realized that do not trust too confidently with someone when dealing with a valuable thing (in this case our portfolio assets).

[Adbitco]

Yeah that is pretty scary. Especially since they send a photo of your house and unless you recognise it was a Google streetview photo you are going to freak out and assume they live in your city and you might be in danger.

I heard the ones where they just email you and threaten but didnt think they would send along photos of your place of residence. The things scammers will do is crazy these days and downright scary.

Hopefully not too many people fall for these scams but I am sure some will because they wont want to put their family at risk.

My question is how would scammer gets our mail to send out that threatening mails? To me i think this things are being done by a close by friends or neighbors who knows that such people are holding enough bitcoin or that knows that such person trades bitcoin. Sincerely google street view doesn't give you view of someone's home, meaning it's archives the old post and updates from google so if someone is that clever enough they would know that it's not a recent photos.

It may be someone close who is trying to scam them or not but to clear your doubt there are several ways that a scammer can get someone's email without going through their phone. We know there are lots of sites where we logins our email information, some fake site that also demands an email for a person to subscribe to their newsletter. And not just that most sites we open in our browser cannot be trusted because some do sell users information while some collect the information for themselves, and the main aim is to send scam messages to users.

Apart from such threat, I heard about another one which user get threatened with their nudes or cheating photos. I wonder how they get to have the information of the victim. But funny enough that is where i suspect that someone who is close to the persons is responsible for doing those things.

Blackmailing is something that is too common nowadays because when going into a hotel with someone be it your friend or lover you gat to be very mindful and careful while entering inside the hotel. I can also remember a nude photos of a celebrity that was shared across to blackmail her. Yes of course there are people behind all these and should be very mindful while involving oneself to online sites most especially as you said of subscribing to newsletter and other sign up from site.

[retreat]

This type of scam is actually very scary, and I would also be very surprised when an unknown person sends a picture of my house to my email and asks for payment. Especially in this day and age, there are many crazy people and criminals on the streets, and it is no wonder that many people are trapped in scams like this. That's why as internet users we must be able to ensure and understand things like this and not panic about threatening emails or other things that threaten our lives. Always be vigilant and careful in responding to various things, or if you are not sure, immediately report to the police if there is something suspicious

[pawanjain]

And interesting topic here;

Randolph police warn of new email scam demanding bitcoin

RANDOLPH — Police are alerting the community about a new scam involving threatening emails that demand bitcoin payments after victims received messages containing their personal information and photos of their homes.

The Randolph Police Department reported an increase in complaints from residents who have received emails, mostly from gmail.com accounts, that use the victims’ full names and addresses.

The emails include images that appear to be taken from online mapping applications, such as Google Maps, depicting the street or front yard of the targeted individuals.

According to the authorities, the emails have a threatening tone and demand a bitcoin payment, typically in the amount of either $1,950 or $2,000.

Scammers have included a QR code for the intended payment and falsely claim that Pegasus malware has been installed on the victim’s computer.

Police emphasized that recipients of such emails should not respond.

The recommended action is to immediately move the email to the spam folder and then delete it to avoid further risk.

The department urges anyone who receives a similar email or has questions to contact the Randolph Police Department at 781-963-1212 for assistance and support in dealing with the scam.

The scam attempt seems so simple, yet there are still people who fall for it. It’s a threat, though we don’t always know what kind, but for those who aren’t familiar with the technology, seeing an email where the scammer knows their address and even has a picture could really scare them, not realizing it just came from Google Maps. That’s why people need to be more educated about these kinds of scams and the technology behind them to help minimize cases like this.

How are you so sure that people actually fall for such scams ? Does the report say how many fell for this scam ?
Although it's good to raise awareness but I doubt people actually fell for it.
Why would somebody pay anyone just because they showed their street picture in an email.

[Roseline492]

Blackmailing is something that is too common nowadays because when going into a hotel with someone be it your friend or lover you gat to be very mindful and careful while entering inside the hotel. I can also remember a nude photos of a celebrity that was shared across to blackmail her.

You are right blackmailing is very common and it comes in different forms so is advised for people to always be very watchful from the kind of friends they have and also the information given to them because it can be used against them when they less expected because I could also remember what happened to the celebrity you mentioned how she was blackmailed through her nude photo, so the question was that how dose her nude photo got to the person without an insider, so actually if they really go dip down they would be surprised with what they would unveil, so actually I believe that is only someone who knows the person very well will be able to get all there private information including there house address to threaten them through there mail.

[Hamza2424]

And interesting topic here;

The scam attempt seems so simple, yet there are still people who fall for it. It’s a threat, though we don’t always know what kind, but for those who aren’t familiar with the technology, seeing an email where the scammer knows their address and even has a picture could really scare them, not realizing it just came from Google Maps. That’s why people need to be more educated about these kinds of scams and the technology behind them to help minimize cases like this.

My father was saying a couple of hours ago that crypto scams are heading up on a different hot scale again and my comment was nope, compared to those old defi and phishing links things are under control now, but it seems I'm really unaware of maximum scams. I'm not sure if he got such kind of email or any other phishing link or he just made a comment while reading some TG News (news from a telegram channel as he follows many of such news alert channels).

Keeping a low profile in your social media and your actual life is important as it helps you to boost your privacy level and, in the coming era you'll realize how badly your data can be used to threaten you, scam you, and even blackmail won't be surprising. This is especially true when it comes to sensitive matters like Bitcoin holdings and other asset data. The fewer people who know about your assets and personal details, the more secure and protected you'll be in the long run